North Queensland Cowboys premiership heroes lock horns in Mackay Cutters vs Townsville Blackhawks
Cowboys premiership heroes Jason Taumalolo and James Tamou went toe-to-toe on Sunday when the Cutters and Blackhawks battled in Townsville. Find out how they fared along with the other Cowboys playing QLD Cup.
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A decade on from their NRL premiership heroics with the North Queensland Cowboys, two of the club’s finest forwards faced off in the Queensland Cup this weekend.
Mackay’s Jason Taumalolo and Townsville’s James Tamou shared the NRL grand final podium together back in 2015, and it was clear that close connections remained 10 years on despite them being on opposite sides of the pitch on the weekend.
The Blackhawks raced out to an early lead but Mackay was able to cut back the margin and draw level at 18-18 before Jack Campagnolo kicked the Blackhawks ahead with a field goal, ultimately going on to win the match 27-20.
Locals must have thought Townsville was being hit by another earthquake when the two colossal forwards collided early in the match, but it was a surprisingly friendly altercation between the NRL veterans.
“It was a bit awkward, the first time Jimmy ran the ball I got into the tackle and we both started laughing,” Taumalolo said.
“It was kind of like a conversation, meeting a friend for the first time after it’s been a while.
“I tackled him and he was like, ‘big Jase, how are ya’, and I was like, ‘going good, Jimmy, how are you?’
“We had those moments where we did get into a tackle and if I was on top of the ball we’d start talking.”
Taumalolo conceded this was far from your usual mid-game conversation – typically reserved for trash talk between opponents – but he said while it was “unusual” it also made sense given their personalities.
“It felt a little bit weird because when guys are talking in the tackle it’s mostly sledging, but we were having a friendly conversation between mates during the game,” he said.
“Definitely something unusual but Jimmy is one of the nicest guys that you’ll ever come across and I don’t mind having a conversation with Jimmy during a game.”
COWBOYS IN CUP
Taumalolo was a brick wall in defence while providing a strong platform in attack, bending the line at will with his powerful carries and providing a number of late offloads to open up second-phase play.
The Cowboys enforcer started the game and played 22 tough minutes before making way for rising NRL prospect Jeremiah Mata’utia.
Taumalolo then re-entered the game not long after halftime and played the final 34 minutes, continuing to make bone-crunching tackles and physical runs until the final whistle.
His Mackay front row partner Tom Mikaele played an incredible 66 minutes in the middle, only coming off for a quick breather either side of the break.
Up in Cairns, Jeremiah Nanai made 27 tackles with three misses, gave away one penalty and threw one offload while making no errors.
He took 10 runs for 106m, contributing in attack with one tackle bust and one linebreak assist.
WHO WILL PAYTEN WING THIS WEEK?
Cowboys winger Braidon Burns is set for an extended period on the sideline after picking up a hamstring injury in the round 2 loss to Cronulla.
Outside back prospects Jaxson Paulo, Semi Valemei and Rob Derby are the three potential replacements for Burns, with the trio all making it through 80 minutes of Q Cup this weekend.
Valemei and Paulo were both reliable for Mackay in tricky conditions in Townsville, while Derby made 170m and scored a late try to give his team a chance of a comeback in a 20-16 defeat to the Tweed Seagulls.
Derby ($214,000) is a genuine NRL SuperCoach ‘cheapie’ while Paulo ($335,300) and Valemei ($386,400) could both see big price rises if they can hold onto a starting place in North Queensland’s game day 17 while Burns is out.
‘FRUSTRATING START’: CUTHBERTSON ON MACKAY’S PERFORMANCE
Cutters coach Adam Cuthbertson said their loss to the Blackhawks 27-20 was far from the result his team had been looking for coming into their opening fixture of the season.
“It’s a frustrating start to the season, doesn’t reflect the work we’ve put in during pre-season,” Cuthbertson said.
“You could tell the Blackhawks were up for it early, they came out playing some very good football right from the get-go.”
But he said his group is now more focused than ever on stepping up their game and getting a win on the board at the earliest opportunity.
“The boys were hurting in the sheds after the game, they know they got it wrong,” Cuthbertson said.
“We’ve just got to go away and look at a few things and have a real honest review, we’ll be better for it.”
GENTLE GIANT ON TRACK FOR NRL
Taumalolo said the Cutters’ 20-year-old Cowboys-contracted forward Mata’utia was one of the more promising prospects he saw out there.
“He’s big and he’s pretty soft – in a good way – he’s like a gentle giant,” Taumalolo said.
“He’s developed into a good young kid. He’s still learning, and he’s just got a couple of little things to work out. As a person he’s a good kid on the field he carries himself pretty well.
“I think he’s still 20, so he’s still learning to play against men and that physical side of it, but I definitely think he’ll be one of the future forwards for the club.”
CAMPESE: MARQUEE SIGNING LANDS KILLER BLOW
Townsville’s star off-season recruit Jack Campagnolo was the hero for the Blackhawks, slotting a late field goal to put his side ahead.
Blackhawks coach Terry Campese said the 26-year-old Italian international was the calming influence the side needed.
“Jack was our biggest marquee signing over the pre-season. When we knew that he wanted to come home, I said that we have to get him,” Campese said.
“We needed someone to control the team and he does that on and off the field. He brings really good culture and that’s why I’ve named him skipper.
“Tonight he controlled the game, he slotted that field goal at the right time – I thought it eased the pressure off the team even though there was 12 minutes to go.
“He had a calm head on him and I thought he was outstanding. He got one of the man of the matches as well.”
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Originally published as North Queensland Cowboys premiership heroes lock horns in Mackay Cutters vs Townsville Blackhawks
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